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Monthly Archives October 2017

A shift in thinking often precedes a change in action. This process is supported by collective narratives, which, for better or worse, help people to emotionally engage and create a different future. Narratives speak to the human capability to find meaning, and consciously and collectively shape the future. Therefore, when collective leadership decides to engage with transformative change we also need to engage with collective narratives. Through the lens of the dimensions of the Collective Leadership Compass, narratives co-creates a future that engenders responsibility and enacts future possibilities. But narratives also touch on other principles. They further the dimension of engagementContinue Reading

Let us examine a typical sustainability challenge: An agricultural commodity is produced in Africa – in a limited amount of countries. As is often the case, small-scale producing farmers are organized in cooperatives, but these cooperatives have competence gaps within their management. Moreover, there are also discrepencies in the trading and production aspects of this commodity. Many traders bring the commodity to each national commodity board. In one country all commodities needed to be auctioned, in another country they could be auctioned or could be traded directly to the buyers. And at the level of individual farms, practices may not beContinue Reading

Leadership paradigms often refer to only individual leaders and the expansion their individual skills. The collective has been missing in leadership development thus far. However, the challenges faced in most sustainability projects require us to go beyond the individual – and build the capacity of groups and systems. To move critical issues of common concern forward requires collective action, dialogue and collaboration. Moreover, most employee performance indicators do not measure the quality of collective human interaction. Yet, this is what counts most for results. We therefore need to shift from a self-centered consciousness to awareness of the larger whole. This capacity building will be theContinue Reading

Humans have long been fascinated by the dynamism of free-flowing waters. Yet we have expended great effort to tame rivers for transportation, water supply, flood control, agriculture, and power generation. Poff et al, 2008, The Natural Flow Regime Sometimes life develops as if designed by us. We feel we are in a flow. At other times, things happen that push our life into disarray. We feel we are loosing control. As we fight against feelings of powerlessness we respond by identifying problems developing and implementing a solution for its control. Control is profoundly ingrained within most existing human societies: weContinue Reading